The tragedy of the Dartmoor Pony Cull Conspiracy is that misinformation can lead to scientific advice being ignored, & environmental watchdogs like Natural England having their powers curtailed - exactly what the Tories & rightwing press have always wanted. I spoke to @mrjamesob.bsky.social:
Some very inaccurate statistics are being bandied about.
According to the BBC (extensively quoted elsewhere) 6000 ponies lived on Dartmoor in 2000.
Yet the National Park authority estimated <1500 in 2006.
A later study found 1000-1200 in 2016.
It helps if you start with the facts.
Next week: The US and Iran join forces to bomb Israel.
Penalty drama
It's also worth noting that, for 1000 ponies on Dartmoor there are:
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust
Dartmoor Hill Pony Association (DHPA)
Friends of the Dartmoor Pony
Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society
Dartmoor Commoners Council
The DHPA was set up by a potter. They are certainly stirring the pot.
Wow.
It's only taken them 18 months to leave the Nazi hellsite.
England looking nervy.
Memories of the mud are fast receding at #Durotriges26